The Buddha image with dropping legs

Keywords : Phra Pathomchedi, Buddha image, Wat Phra Meru, Buddha image with dropping leg

Artwork alternative name	Luang Phor Silakaw
Site common name	Phra Pratom Chedi
Type of artwork	Sculpture
Sub district	Phra Pathom Chedi
District	Mueang Nakhon Pathom
Province	Nakhon Pathom
Region	Central
Country	Thailand
Geographic Coordinates Decimal degree	Lat : 13.819103 Long : 100.060311
Geographic Coordinates UTM	Zone : 47 P Hemisphere : N E : 614588.44 N : 1527937.03
Place of artwork	The south of the circumambulatory of Phra Pratom Chedi.

History of production	The construction history remains unclear. However, the art characteristics suggest that it might have been built in Dvaravati period. It is enshrined at Wat Phra Meru, Nakhon Pratom together with other four Buddha images with dropping legs.
Production process	Rock Carving
Conservation	Discovered at Wat Phra Meru, Nakhon Pratom
Art	This Buddha image has undergone a big restoration. The image wears sliding monastic robe. The robe is thin and has no wrinkles. The right hand depicts the attitude of giving sermon and the left hand is placed on the lap. There is a lotus supporting the feet. It has square face, prominent and connected eyebrows, low-looking and protruding eyes, large nose, big mouth, spiral hair buds, protruding “Usanesa” and a glass bead-like halo.
Key academic information	This Buddha image shows the relationship between Dvaravati culture and Indian culture during Kupta and post-Kupta period. In addition, this is only one of a few complete Buddha images with dropping legs remaining.
Notice	This Buddha image with dropping legs at Wat Phra Meru is enshrined with three other Buddha images. They are enshrined at 1. The ordination hall of Phra Pratom Chedi 2. The National Museum Chaosamphraya and. 3. The National Museum Phranakorn. Originally, these four Buddha images were enshrined at the square core of the building, one on each side. For the Buddha image with dropping legs at the minor assembly hall at Wat Phra Meru, Ayutthaya, it was discovered at Wat Mahadhat Ayutthaya in the reign of King Rama 3 . Later, parts of the throne were discovered at Wat Phra Meru, Nakhon Pratom ( now at the national museum Pratom Chedi). It is therefore believed that this Buddha image was once at Wat Phra Meru Nakhon Pratom as well. Because of these five Buddha images, it means that Dvaravati art has the highest number of Buddha images with dropping legs that were craved from rock.
Period	Historical Period
Art period	Dvaravati
Age	12th -16th centuries BE.
Religion	Buddhism
Religion and belief	Buddhism
Related artwork	1. The Buddha images with dropping legs from Kupta and post-Kupta of Indian art. 2. The Buddha image Mendut Candi, Central Java art, Indonesia.

Type of License	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
Rights	Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation	2016-08-19
Record creator	Rungroj Thamrungraeng
Bibliography	ธนิต อยู่โพธิ์, พระพุทธรูปศิลาขาวสมัยทวารวดี. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2510. ผาสุข อินทราวุธ, ทวารวดี การศึกษาเชิงวิเคราะห์จากหลักฐานทางโบราณคดี. กรุงเทพฯ : อักษรสมัย, 2542. พิริยะ ไกรฤกษ์, ประวัติศาสตร์ศิลปะในประเทศไทยฉบับคู่มือนักศึกษา. กรุงเทพฯ : อมรินทร์การพิมพ์, 2528. ศักดิ์ชัย สายสิงห์, ศิลปะทวารวดี วัฒนธรรมพุทธศาสนายุคแรกเริ่มในดินแดนไทย. กรุงเทพฯ : เมืองโบราณ, 2547.